title: The effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide on pregnancy in the rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Periodontitis, mostly associated with Porphyromonas gingivalis, has frequently been related to adverse pregnancy outcomes. We therefore investigated whether lipopolysaccharides of P. gingivalis (Pg-LPS) induced pregnancy complications in the rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experiment 1: pregnant rats (day 14) received increasing Pg-LPS doses (0.0-50.0 μg kg(-1) bw; n = 2/3 p per dose). Maternal intra-aortic blood pressure, urinary albumin excretion, placental and foetal weight and foetal resorptions were documented. Experiment 2: 10.0 μg kg(-1) bw (which induced the highest blood pressure together with decreased foetal weight in experiment 1) or saline was infused in pregnant and non-pregnant rats (n = 7/9 p per group). Parameters of experiment 1 and numbers of peripheral leucocytes as well as signs of inflammation in the kidney and placenta were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pg-LPS infusion in pregnant rats increased maternal systolic blood pressure, reduced placental weight (dose dependently) and decreased foetal weight and induced foetal resorptions. It, however, did not induce proteinuria or a generalised inflammatory response. No effects of Pg-LPS were seen in non-pregnant rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pg-LPS increased maternal blood pressure, induced placental and foetal growth restriction, and increased foetal resorptions, without inducing proteinuria and inflammation. Pg-LPS may therefore play a role in pregnancy complications induced by periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Center for Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; School of Health Care Studies, Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kunnen
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: van Pampus
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Aarnoudse
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: van der Schans
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Faas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000139:chemically induced; D020567:Fetal Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides
keywords: hypertension; periodontitis; pregnancy complications; rat